Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel dies after on-field collision
Thirty-year-old Jesus de Miguel collapsed following a collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper during a match, suffered cardiac arrest and died the next day, prompting investigations and tributes across Spanish football.
Jesus de Miguel, a 30-year-old striker for CD Tenerife, died on Tuesday after collapsing in a match against FC Andorra. The incident occurred when the away goalkeeper, Jesus Owono, rushed out of his area to clear a long ball and collided with the forward, leading to a cardiac arrest on the pitch. Medical staff attended to de Miguel for more than five minutes before he was taken to hospital, where his condition worsened neurologically and he later passed away.
The match was abandoned seven minutes into stoppage time. Owono was shown a red card and sent off immediately. Spanish police opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter, a routine procedure for non-natural deaths under Spanish law.
CD Tenerife released a statement expressing profound sadness and requesting privacy for the family. FC Andorra, LaLiga, Barcelona, Real Madrid, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, and other clubs issued condolences. UEFA announced that all matches that week would begin with a moment of silence, and Arsenal held a minute’s silence at a training session.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas said he would discuss with Tenerife the possibility of postponing their next match and considered a joint tribute involving clubs from both professional divisions, emphasizing ongoing support for the family and the club.